Ceasefire in 2 days, artillery withdrawal in 2 weeks, ‘DNR’ and ‘LNR’ to formally reintegrate into Ukraine (under ‘special status’), constitutional reform in Ukraine until the end of 2015. And only after that could the state border in Donbas be possibly controlled by Ukraine.

Today, 12 February 2015, the contact group (representatives of Ukraine, Russia, EU, and Russian terrorist organizations ‘DNR’ and ‘LNR’) have signed the documents prepared by the ‘Normandy 4’ (Poroshenko, Putin, Merkel, Hollande). An unofficial translation in English is available on Ukraine Today.

Image: joinfo.com

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko also announced about agreements aimed at freeing Nadiya Savchenko as soon as possible, Reuters reports. Poroshenko also said there are no agreements about possible autonomy (of ‘DNR’ and ‘LNR’) within Ukraine, or about federalization of Ukraine. Mark Feygin, lawyer of Nadiya Savchenko, tweeted that Nadiya is allegedly on the list for exchange (of prisoners – FD). Nadiya Savchenko is on hunger strike against her illegal imprisonment by Russia for 62 days now. Later Mark Feygin said that the Savchenko case will be formally carried on, it will resolve in a precessual way. “Innocence of Savchenko is obvious.”

According to the agreement made after 17 hours of negotiations, a ceasefire would begin on 15 February 2015. The deal also involves the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the front line and establishment of security zones of 50, 70 and 140 km wide for different calibers of artillery. Withdrawal is to be begin in two days after ceasefire and to be carried out over the next 14 days. However the deal was not a “comprehensive solution” nor a “breakthrough,” Germany’s foreign minister said.

Ukrainian authorities are to “begin the dialogue on modality of conducting local elections in accordance with Ukrainian legislation and the Law of Ukraine ‘On the temporary self-government procedures in certain districts of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts’ (so called ‘Special status law’, adopted by Ukrainian parliament after the September 2014 Minsk agreements – FD), and about the future regime of these areas.”

Within 30 days from now, Ukraine’s Parliament has to adopt a resolution outlining the territory where the “special status law” will be enacted, “based on the line, defined in the Minsk Memorandum of 19 September 2014.”

Provide for pardon and amnesty by the special law, “forbidding the persecution and punishment of persons in connection with events taking place in some areas of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine.”

Release and exchange all hostages/prisoners based on ‘all for all’ principle. This process should be finalized on the fifth day after [heavy arms] withdrawal.

Provide for safe delivery and distribution of humanitarian aid, based on the international mechanism.

“Defining of the modalities” of the full reestablishment of social and economic links in conflict areas (including payments of pension and social benefits), reestablishment of Ukrainian taxation in the region. Ukraine to gain control of the segment of its banking system, possibly with international assistance.

At the same time, full control over the state border of Ukraine in Donetsk and Luhansk regions will be possibly restored only at the end of 2015, after the projected local elections in the region and constitutional reform in Ukraine take place.

Withdrawal of “all foreign armed forces, military vehicles, and also mercenaries from the territory of Ukraine, under OSCE observation,” disarmament of all illegal groups.

Conducting constitutional reform in Ukraine, providing for decentralization (taking into account “peculiarities of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts”), and passing permanent legislation on specific status of these areas until the end of 2015. Additional provisions for that prospected law include:

exemption from punishment, prosecution, and discrimination of persons in connection with events taking place in some areas of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts;

participation of ‘local self-government’ of these areas (i.e. territories currently occupied by Russia via DNR and LNR) in appointment of heads of state

prosecution (Prokuratura) and chief judges;

Ukrainian government to support social and economic development of these areas;

Ukrainian central government to facilitate “trans-border cooperation” of these areas with the regions in Russian Federation;

“Units of peoples’ militia” to be established by the decisions of “local self government” to provide for “public order” in these areas;

“powers of the deputies of local councils and officials elected in early elections, appointed by Verkhovna Rada by this law can not be terminated prematurely.”

The document was signed by the participants of the Tripartite Contact Group:

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It’s a start. Hopefully Putin and his militants will abide by it. It’s pitiful that it took a threat of US arms to force Putin to make a deal at the loss of so much life and property.

DejaVu

Why is this a start? You are delusional if you cannot see the comparison to this and Munich of 1938. So Putin and Russia gain everything in this deal and Ukraine is sold out by Hollande and Merkel.

disqus60

I didn’t say it was a good deal, but it’s a chance at stopping the bloodshed for the immediate future. The thing is I don’t believe Putin nor his minions will abide by it and in the end there will be only one way to ensure security. There cannot be a peaceful coexistence with these butchers to live on the border, so there has to be a way to ensure they are gone. There is time to develop if Ukraine isn’t having to constantly devote its resources to war. Ukraine needs time and economic and political development. I still expect US to provide training and weapons.

Czech Friend

No one in their right mind can trust anything coming out of Putin! I call on US to provide specific arms and military personel to Ukraine immediately. Be it by non-governmental way it needs to happen ASAP.

Politicians had sold us once again to the mad agressor and criminal Putin just like they did with Hitler. If we citizens of the free world do nothing and belief this ugly evil of Russia is not going to attack us, then god help us all.

Ukraine must fight for its survival and so do we against the Russian enemy and oour corrupt “elites”.

Kruton

Bring on the Javelins!

Brent

Agreed. There is nothing in this ageement to stop the U.S. (except for an O’Bumbla veto) to still provide Ukraine with defensive weapons to make them be prepared for the inevitable collapse of this deal. Not trying to be negative, but just a realist considering the parties (Putin, Zakharchenko, Plotnitsky) that are involved and their past record.

StumpedNoMore2

Truth. The Art of War by Sun Tzu. You must know your enemies.

StumpedNoMore2

So Ukraine gets to foot the bill for Kremlin-led regions while Russia can sit back and get Crimea? I am angry just like you are Czech friend. It should be Russia that finance them economically and it should be Russia that rebuild that area.

Sulfur12

OK, so you bought 3-4 months time. And don’t be surpised when this barbeque is going to be repeated several times. There will be no peace in Ukraine if you won’t miltiarily humilate Putin. If this won’t be achieved, then he is going to repeat this over and over again, till there is nothing left and he will do with Ukraine whatever he wants. There is no going back.

DejaVu

There won’t be any peace in Europe either. World War III is inevitable.

Charles J. Kollman

The Ukraine has been had by Europe. Remember Hungry Cuba and Czechoslovak all Countries that freedom fighters were supported by The US. But when the shit went down where was America and it’s support. You may rest a with the idea Putin does not stop here with the Ukraine. He thinks and acts like the KGB Officer he is. His mentality is that of The Soviet Union. People in Europe it’s time for them to put their head between their legs and kiss there ass good bye.

DejaVu

Ironic isn’t it 1956 (Hungarian Revolt) and 1968 (Prague revolt) in Hungary and the Czechoslovakia. Now they are Russian sympathisers.

Charles J. Kollman

I believe that the Russian people are like most of all people good. But i see over time and now they believe what the government is saying. Russians that live today that lived in The Soviet Union still believe it was the best. Example they were always told they could not get a visa to Europe or The US. because these Countries would not give them to them. The truth was that The Soviet Government would not let them ask for a visa for fear they would not come back. I was to the Ukraine in March of 2010 for 90 days in the area just south of Odessa. I found that all was well and good and the people even in a street treated me good. I did find out that there was much corruption with the police and government first hand. This is how The Ukraine and Russia today operate meaning running the Country. My wife was born in Siberia, but now is a Citizen of The Ukraine, because in 1991 when Russia should have helped and protected Russians in former SSR. they turned away and screwed them. Then it was not important, but today and with Putin and his mentality from The Soviet Union and being programed by The KGB. he makes this important. He uses this now as a cause to create a Red Flag. His solution control Europe.

Charles J. Kollman

Now The US. should fuck Europe and now send arms with training and boots on the ground to the Ukraine. Send many Ships into the Black Sea.

TheBlogFodder

Minsk III in four months?

DejaVu

World War III in four months you mean.

Scradje

We can live in hope I suppose. Putler’s signature is worthless. Increase sanctions until the border has been sealed by international peacekeepers and he has withdrawn all his criminals, mercenaries, troops, spetsnaz, tanks, heavy weaponry, guns, ammo, missile launchers, FSB spies, agent provocateurs, saboteurs etc finally and irrevocably from all Ukraine. Then reparations must be made and war criminals punished.

Euromaidan Press survey

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